Hair appliance with ion generator

ABSTRACT

A hair iron comprising an ion generator that generates ions comprises a slotted nozzle in communication with the ion generator for generating an ion curtain projecting from at least one side of a body of the hair iron, alongside and substantially parallel to a longitudinal edge of the heating element that contacts the hair in use.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of Hong Kong Application No. 18107340.2 filed on Jun. 5, 2018, the whole disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to hair styling appliances, such as curling or straightening irons, that incorporate an ion generator.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In hair styling, particularly hair straightening, where appliances are drawn along hair, static electricity can be problematic, as it can result in hair that either sticks out from the head, or clings to it. To counteract this tendency, and therefore to allow a smoother styling to be achieved, hair appliances may include ion generators. Typical prior art hair styling irons with ion generators are described in EP1208766B1, EP1672965B1 and EP1396208B1, for instance.

Although these old ion generator type appliances address this problem of static electricity in hair during styling to a degree, there remains a need for improvements in this technology to reliably allow smoother styling to be achieved for a range of different hair types, and in different ambient conditions. It is an object of the present invention to address this need or, more generally, to provide an improved hair appliance with an ion generator.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a hair iron comprising:

a body with a hair-care section, at least one elongate heating element disposed in the hair-care section, the elongate heating element having a hair-contacting face for contacting hair in use, an ion generator which generates ions, a slotted nozzle in the hair-care section, the slotted nozzle in communication with the ion generator for generating an ion curtain projecting from at least one side of the body alongside, and substantially parallel to, a longitudinal edge of the heating element.

This invention provides a hair appliance which is effective and efficient in operational use, and which reliably allows smoother styling to be achieved for a range of different hair types and in different ambient conditions, particularly compared to appliances in which ions radiate toward the hair directly from what is effectively a point source, and this is attributed to the distribution of the ions applied to the hair that is achieved. Moreover, it is an arrangement that can be readily employed in hair irons for straightening, but also for curling hair. In one type of iron for straightening hair the hair-contacting face may be substantially planar and, in a hinged-type iron for straightening hair, a pair of hingedly connected arms may carry opposing heating elements, each with a hair-contacting face that is substantially planar. In a hair iron for curling a barrel-shaped or convex hair-contacting face is provided and, optionally, a hinged-type variant may further comprise a heating element having a concave face complementary to the convex face. In a comb-type hair iron of either the curling or straightening type each hair-contacting face may further comprise an array of projecting tines or bristles.

Preferably the at least one elongate heating element comprises a pair of substantially parallel elongate heating elements of like form and the slotted nozzle is disposed between adjacent longitudinal edges of respective ones of the heating elements. For instance, the form of hair-contacting faces of the elements of the pair are both either planar or concave (with or without an array of projecting tines). Configuring the slotted nozzle between a pair of heating elements in this manner provides for an even ion treatment before the heat styling treatment is applied, regardless of the direction in which the appliance is drawn along the hair in use providing for bidirectional movement and convenient left- and right-handed operation.

Alternatively, in a curling appliance with a single elongate heating element of that is generally barrel-shaped, the slotted nozzle may be disposed between two longitudinal edges of the single penannular heating element.

Preferably the body is elongate, with the hair-care section disposed at one longitudinal end, and a grip section disposed at an opposing longitudinal end to be grasped by a user during use of the hair iron. Alternatively, the grip section may comprise a separate housing connected to the body.

Preferably the ion generator is disposed in the body and the body further comprises a supply channel connecting the ion generator to at least one longitudinal end of the slotted nozzle. This arrangement is particularly compact and space-efficient. In other embodiments a pair supply channels may be provided, each connecting longitudinally opposing ends of the slotted nozzle to the ion generator, or to respective ion generators.

Preferably the ion generator generates anions.

Preferably the hair-contacting face is formed on an electrical conductor, particularly on a metal plate, and the hair iron comprises a charging circuit connected to the electrical conductor that electrically charges the conductor to attract the ion curtain. Alternatively, the electrical conductor may be electrically grounded.

Preferably the slotted nozzle is integral with the hair-care section and comprises a through-extending outlet opening such that the ion curtain extends from opposing sides of the hair-care section. This through-extending arrangement is also advantageous for sanitary reasons, as such a slotted nozzle is readily cleaned. Of course, the slotted nozzle may have only a single outlet, so that the ion curtain projects from only one side of the body.

Preferably the through-extending outlet opening is of substantially constant cross-sectional area throughout its length. Preferably the through-extending outlet opening has opposing longitudinal sides that are substantially parallel. Alternatively opposing longitudinal sides of the outlet opening may be inclined to one another so that the opening tapers to diverge toward the outlet adjacent the longitudinal edge of the heating element.

Preferably the body forms a boundary of the slotted nozzle. Alternatively, the heating elements may bound the slotted nozzle.

Preferably the at least one elongate heating element further comprises a plurality of tines of like form projecting from a planar face of the at least one elongate heating element and being disposed in a linear array, longitudinally spaced apart, wherein each of the tines is tapered to narrow toward its tip and opposite transverse edges, and elongated transversely to span the greater part of the width of each of the at least one elongate heating element.

Preferably the supply channel comprises a discharge electrode connecting to the ion generator, and the discharge electrode is disposed at the longitudinal end of the slotted nozzle. Preferably, the supply channel comprises at least two discharge electrodes connecting to the ion generator, and the at least two discharge electrodes are disposed at the two longitudinal ends of the slotted nozzle and are coaxial with the supply channel.

Preferably the supply channel is coaxial with the ion generator, and an axis of the supply channel is acutely inclined relative to a planar face of the at least one elongate heating element so that ion stream is delivered into the slotted nozzle with a minor transverse velocity component and a major longitudinal component.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a first embodiment of the hair iron of the invention;

FIG. 2 is view 2-2 indicated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is the sectional view 3-3 indicated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows the view of FIG. 2 in use when styling a lock of hair;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary schematic plan view of a second embodiment of the hair iron of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of the second embodiment of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of a third embodiment of the hair iron of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic side view of a fourth embodiment of the hair iron of the invention, and

FIGS. 9-12 are schematic plan views of a fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth embodiment of the hair iron of the invention, respectively.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, in a first embodiment the hair iron according to the present invention may be of the tong-type comprising elongate bodies 10, 11 or jaws connected together at their proximate ends by a hinge 12 and configured for straightening hair clamped between the bodies 10, 11. Each body 10, 11 comprises a hair-care section 13, 14 at its distal end in which radiant electric heating elements 15, 16, 17 are mounted. Intermediate the hinge 12 and hair-care section 13, 14 the bodies have a grip section 19 by which the appliance is grasped and manipulated and which may be narrower than the hair-care section 13, 14. The bodies 10, 11 thus form the structural frame of the hair iron, and an enclosure for its components.

The heating elements 15, 16 may each be of like elongate form, as with a rectangular perimeter, and arranged parallel and spaced apart on the inner side of the hair-care section 13, whereas a single heating element 17 may be disposed on the inner side of the hair-care section 14. The heating element 17 may also have a rectangular perimeter with and extend for substantially the same length as each of the heating elements 15, 16 and have a width substantially the same as the transverse spacing that between outer longitudinal edges of the heating elements 15, 16. The pair of heating elements 15, 16 are thus in registration with the element 17 when in the closed position. In the straightening iron illustrated, each of the heating elements 15, 16, 17 has a respective metallic hair-contacting face 15 a, 16 a, 17 a which may be substantially planar and which is pressed into contact with hair in use.

The preferred embodiment has an anion generator 20 which is of known type, such as a Corona discharge device, but, as described below, the hair iron of the invention may alternatively include a cation generator, or generators for both anions and cations. The anion generator 20 may be mounted in the body 10 near the inner end of the heating elements 15, 16 and is connected by an ion supply channel 21 to one longitudinal end of a slotted nozzle 22 formed integrally with the body 10 in the hair-care section 13 between the heating elements 15, 16. The axis of the ion supply channel 21 may be coaxial with the axis 28 of the anion generator 20 or of a discharge electrode (shown in FIG. 12) of the anion generator 20 and, as best seen in FIG. 1, the axis 28 of the ion supply channel 21 may be acutely inclined relative to the planar faces 15 a, 16 a toward the inside 26 so that the ion stream is delivered into the slotted nozzle 22 with a minor transverse velocity component, and a major longitudinal component.

The slotted nozzle 22 is substantially longitudinally coextensive with the heating element 15, 16 and may have opposing longitudinal sides 23, 24 that are substantially parallel, extending through the hair-care section 13 of the body 10 to opposing outlets, one on the outside 25 and one on the inside between the heating elements 15, 16.

The conductive metallic surface 17 a of the heating element 17 may be connected to a charging circuit 30 by which it is positively electrically charged to attract the emitted anions. In this manner, operation of the anion generator 20 produces an ion curtain projecting from the inner side 26 of the hair-care section 13 alongside, and substantially parallel to, adjacent inner longitudinal edges of the heating element 15, 16.

Referring to FIG. 4, in use a lock of hair 31 extends generally transversely, spanning across the heating elements and across the slot defined by the slotted nozzle 22. An even distribution of anions is produced on a larger area of hair 31 by the ion curtain on the inside and is directed toward the hair 31. If the iron is drawn upward along the hair 31, then the ion curtain leads the heating element 15 (and half of its counter element 17) providing pre-treatment before the styling, and likewise when drawn down along the hair 31, then the ion curtain leads the heating element 16 (and half of its counter element 17). Therefore, an even ionic pre-treatment is achieved regardless of the direction in which the appliance is drawn along the hair, providing for convenient left- and right-handed operation. When drawn over the hair, water collected in the slotted nozzle 22 is exposed to high temperature and readily vaporised and vented to the outside 25, while the through-extending configuration also allows the slotted nozzle 22 to be readily cleaned.

A number of variants of the first embodiment can produce equally satisfactory improvements in styling performance, and some of these are discussed with reference to the remaining FIGS. 5 to 11. FIGS. 5 and 6 show a hair iron for straightening of the comb type with one elongate body 10 and in which the heating elements 115, 116 each further comprises tines 32 which may project from their planar faces 115 a, 116 a and may be disposed in a linear array, longitudinally spaced apart. Each tine 32 may have a like form, being tapered to narrow toward its tip and opposite transverse edges, and elongated transversely to span the greater part of the width of each heating element 115, 116.

FIGS. 5 and 6 also show a charging circuit 130, in which the heating elements 115, 116 are electrically grounded, as by connection to a high electrical resistance. In a tong-type hair iron having the charging circuit 130 connected to a pair of heating elements in one of the bodies, a charging circuit 30 may be absent from the other of the bodies.

In embodiments of the invention the slotted nozzle 122 may have only a single outlet and such a slotted nozzle 122 is illustrated in FIG. 7 where, opposite its open mouth, the slotted nozzle 122 has a closed concave surface 36 that extends longitudinally to maintain a substantially constant cross section throughout its length.

In a tong-type hair iron both hingedly connected bodies 10, 11 may comprise an integral slotted nozzle 22, 122, and each body 10, 11 may hold a respective anion generator. As shown in FIG. 8, ion supply channels 21 are preferably disposed at longitudinal ends of the slotted nozzle 22 and equally transversely spaced from the heating elements 15-18. The axes 28 of the anion generators may also extend generally longitudinally as shown in FIG. 8, as the preferred minor transverse velocity component is not essential.

In the first embodiment, as best seen in FIG. 3, the longitudinal sides 23, 24 of the slotted nozzle 22 are preferably spaced apart transversely from the opposing inner edges 38, 39 of the elements 15, 16 providing a small expansion space 40 on the inside, generally between the inner opening 41 of the slotted nozzle 22 and the inner edges 38, 39, that is wider than the inner opening 41. However, this expansion space 40 is not essential and the inner edges 38, 39 may be substantially aligned with the longitudinal sides 23, 24 of the slotted nozzle 22 such that the slotted nozzle 22 is bounded by the heating elements 15, 16, rather than the body 10, as shown in FIG. 9.

Whereas the slotted nozzle 22 preferably extends longitudinally between two heating elements, as seen in FIG. 2 (or between opposite edges of a single penannular heating element—not shown), it is not essential for the slotted nozzle 22 to lie between heating elements 15, 16 (or between edges of a single heating element). The inventor has found that improved styling performance, compared to old ionic hair styling irons, is still achieved with a slotted nozzle 22 elongated to span the hair-care section 13 lengthwise, but disposed alongside only one longitudinal edge of the heating element 117. This embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 10, where the hair-care section 13 comprises only a single heating element 117 and a respective single slotted nozzle 22 adjacent and parallel to an outer edge 45 of the hair-care section 13 and alongside, parallel and spaced apart from, a long edge of the substantially rectangular periphery of the heating element 117.

FIG. 11 shows a further embodiment of the invention in which a pair of slotted nozzles 22 is formed in the hair-care section 13 of the body 10, alongside respective opposing longitudinal edges of the hair-care section 13, each lying adjacent a respective longitudinal edge of a single heating element 117. The slotted nozzles 22 may be supplied from one anion generator 20 or from respective ion generators 20 (not shown in FIG. 11). Analogously to the configuration of FIG. 9, opposite outer edges 138, 139 of the element 117 may be substantially coplanar with one of the longitudinal sides 23, 24 of each slotted nozzle 22 such that the inside edge of each slotted nozzle 22 is bounded by the heating element 117. This embodiment with the pair of slotted nozzles 22 also has the advantage previously identified in respect of the first embodiment that, regardless of the direction in which the appliance is drawn along the hair, an ionic pre-treatment precedes the hair styling treatment.

FIG. 12 shows a further embodiment of the invention where, similar to the embodiment of FIG. 10, the hair-care section 13 comprises a single heating element 117 and a respective single slotted nozzle 22 adjacent and parallel to an outer edge 45 of the hair-care section 13 and alongside, parallel and spaced apart from, a long edge of the substantially rectangular periphery of the heating element 117. The supply channel 21 of the slotted nozzle 22 comprises two discharge electrodes 47 connecting to the anion generator 20 (not shown), and the two discharge electrodes 47 are disposed at two longitudinal ends of the slotted nozzle 22 and are coaxial with the supply channel 21. Alternatively, the supply channel 21 of the slotted nozzle 22 may comprise only one discharge electrode 47 connecting to the anion generator 20 and is disposed at a longitudinal end of the slotted nozzle 22.

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope thereof. 

1. A hair iron comprising: a body with a hair-care section, at least one elongate heating element disposed in the hair-care section, the elongate heating element having a hair-contacting face for contacting hair in use, an ion generator which generates ions, a slotted nozzle in the hair-care section, the slotted nozzle in communication with the ion generator for generating an ion curtain projecting from at least one side of the body alongside, and substantially parallel to, a longitudinal edge of the heating element.
 2. The hair iron of claim 1 wherein the at least one elongate heating element comprises a pair of substantially parallel elongate heating elements of like form and the slotted nozzle is disposed between adjacent longitudinal edges of respective ones of the heating elements.
 3. The hair iron of claim 1 wherein the body is elongate, with the hair-care section disposed at one longitudinal end, and a grip section disposed at an opposing longitudinal end to be grasped by a user during use of the hair iron.
 4. The hair iron of claim 1 wherein the ion generator is disposed in the body and the body further comprises a supply channel connecting the ion generator to at least one longitudinal end of the slotted nozzle.
 5. The hair iron of claim 1 wherein the ion generator generates anions.
 6. The hair iron of claim 1 wherein the hair-contacting face is formed on an electrical conductor, particularly on a metal plate, and the hair iron comprises a charging circuit connected to the electrical conductor that electrically charges the conductor to attract the ion curtain.
 7. The hair iron of claim 6 wherein the electrical conductor is electrically grounded.
 8. The hair iron of claim 1 wherein the slotted nozzle is integral with the hair-care section and comprises a through-extending outlet opening such that the ion curtain extends from opposing sides of the hair-care section.
 9. The hair iron of claim 8 wherein the through-extending outlet opening is of substantially constant cross-sectional area throughout its length.
 10. The hair iron of claim 8 wherein the through-extending outlet opening has opposing longitudinal sides that are substantially parallel.
 11. The hair iron of claim 1 wherein the body forms a boundary of the slotted nozzle.
 12. The hair iron of claim 2 wherein the at least one elongate heating element further comprises a plurality of tines of like form projecting from a planar face of the at least one elongate heating element and being disposed in a linear array, longitudinally spaced apart, wherein each of the tines is tapered to narrow toward its tip and opposite transverse edges, and elongated transversely to span the greater part of the width of each of the at least one elongate heating element.
 13. The hair iron of claim 4 wherein the supply channel comprises a discharge electrode connecting to the ion generator, the discharge electrode is disposed at the longitudinal end of the slotted nozzle.
 14. The hair iron of claim 13 wherein the supply channel comprises at least two discharge electrodes connecting to the ion generator, the at least two discharge electrodes are disposed at the two longitudinal ends of the slotted nozzle and are coaxial with the supply channel.
 15. The hair iron of claim 4 wherein the supply channel is coaxial with the ion generator, and an axis of the supply channel is acutely inclined relative to a planar face of the at least one elongate heating element so that ion stream is delivered into the slotted nozzle with a minor transverse velocity component and a major longitudinal component. 